All posts tagged ‘autism awareness’

Miss America? We’re talking beauty pageants here at GeekMom?? In this case, yes. Alexis Wineman, Miss Montana 2012, is a beautiful young woman. She’s talented. Well-spoken. Poised. She has all of the attributes of a great Miss America. But there’s one little difference between her and the other contestants: Alexis is autistic. When she steps on stage at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 12, Alexis — just like all of the other contestants — is hoping for a crown. In her case, she knows that crown will help her bring a better awareness of autism to the world. But you don’t have to sit through beauties in bikinis to support Alexis. This year, viewers and fans can vote for their favorite contestant online. Cast your vote at the Miss America web page or on Facebook before 11:59 PST on January 10, 2013.

You can bet that more than the usual pageant crowd will be watching this year’s show!

Carly Fleischmann was unable to communicate. Diagnosed with autism and related disorders by the age of two, she screamed, threw herself to the floor, smeared feces, moved constantly, and barely slept at night. An attentive family plus hours of daily therapy helped teach her rudiments like walking and feeding herself. Experts advised her parents to consider residential care.

But one day during a therapy session when she was ten years old, Carly reached for the computer. Slowly, using one finger, she typed

help

teeth

hurt.

Her therapists were astonished. It took months and much coaxing to get her to use the computer again (at that time, an augmentative communication device). But she began to recognize that communication was essential. Technology made it possible.